Famous Movie Cars - What Are The Most Famous Cars?

Volo Posted on 2019-07-19

What's one thing that some of the most iconic movies and TV shows have in common? Awesome cars! Queue up any classic series or film and you're almost guaranteed to see a unique car cruise across your screen. From the Munster Koach from The Munsters and original George Barris Batmobile from the live-action Batman series to models from newer films like the 1934 Ford from Rush Hour 3 and the 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport from Fast and Furious 5, we can't get enough of these legendary rides.

Most Famous Movie Cars 21-24
Most Famous Movie Cars 16-20
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Where Can I See Famous Movie Cars?

Our team at The Volo Auto Museum absolutely loves the cool and crazy cars from some of our favorite movies and television shows. Any car lover knows that narrowing dozens of these fantastic vehicles down to a top 20 ranking is harder than it seems. So what are the most famous movie cars? Here are our top 20 favorite famous movie and TV cars of all time — did any of your favorites make the list?

Most Famous Movie Cars 21-24

#24: "Grease" — 1946 Ford Deluxe

This iconic classic is known for its musical numbers, but it also features an unforgettable car — the 1946 Ford Deluxe. It's the focus of the famous "Greased Lightning" scene, where John Travolta envisions his dilapidated car souped-up and shining. As the scene progresses, the faded exterior turns red and new parts appear to give it its flashy appearance. The final product is just a daydream, of course, and the scene ends with the technicians starting the actual work.

This car stands as a classic piece of movie history and a famous movie car. Volo Auto Museum houses a restored 1964 Ford Deluxe that was featured in a Glee Grease tribute episode.

#23: "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" — 1979 Ford LTD Country Squire

Some of the most famous movie cars are flashy and supremely cool. Others are made to look ugly and almost comical. For a movie like "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," the 1979 Ford LTD Country Squire had the perfect look. Instead of getting his "Antarctic Blue Super Sports Wagon," the Country Squire meets Clark Griswald at the dealership.

Featuring its questionable green exterior and wooden panels, the vacation roadster would start the long and seemingly endless array of unfortunate events Clark Griswalk endures on his "vacation" with his family. It's the ideal car for a movie as wacky and funny as "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."

#22: "Miami Vice" — 1972 Ferrari Daytona Spyder

The early days of "Miami Vice" are nostalgic for many. In those golden days, Crockett still drove around his beloved 1972 Ferarri Daytona Spyder. Sleek and black, the car was an interesting choice for a police detective — City Property apparently gave it to him for his police duties.

It was a classic of the show until the car was tragically blown by a missile in the episode "When Irish Eyes are Crying." As Crockett watches in horror, we feel for him as his cherished "Miami Vice" car goes up in flames. At the Volo Auto Museum, you can admire the only publicly displayed Daytona Spyder that was built for "Miami Vice."

#21: "Bullitt" — 1968 Mustang GT 390

Detective Bullitt's car, the 1968 Mustang GT 390, is involved in one of the greatest car chase scenes of all time. Spanning over ten minutes, the scene truly changed the game for car chases. The scene starts with a slow burn as Bullitt plays cat and mouse with a Dodge Charger that appears to be following him. The Charger soon becomes the victim as Bullitt gets behind them and starts the intense chase.

We follow them as they fly over the rolling San Francisco hills and out into the country, where the chase inevitably ends in a fiery explosion. It's a great scene from a classic movie, and it makes the Mustang from "Bullitt" one of the most notorious famous movie and TV cars.

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#20: The Love Bug — 1962 Volkswagen Beetle "Herbie"

Kicking off our list is the adorable star of five classic Disney movies, Herbie. "The Love Bug" first zipped onto the silver screen in 1968 and most recently appeared alongside Lindsay Lohan in Herbie: Fully Loaded. This anthropomorphic VW Beetle sports the number 53 as he races from Rio de Janeiro to Monte Carlo and everywhere in between. A cute car that will always have a warm place in our heart, Herbie should be comfortably parked on any top-ranked list of movie cars.

#19: Speed Racer — 1984 Chevrolet Mach 5

If you want to be the world's best race car champion, then you need a high-tech race car that can go the distance. The Mach 5 was teenager Go Mifune's speedster in the late-1960's cartoon Speed Racer. With the help of his little brother Spritle Racer, girlfriend Trixie and pet chimp Chim-Chim, Speed Racer pushed his Mach 5 to the limit trying to beat the mysterious Racer X. A few real-life versions of the Mach 5 were created for the public years later.

#18: Batman Begins — 2005 Batmobile Tumbler

The Caped Crusader has driven a lot of different vehicles on-screen and in the comics. From the Batboat and Batcopter to the Batplane and Batcycle, Batman's methods of transportation have always been extravagant. In 2005's Batman Begins, the Dark Knight's Batmobile got a contemporary upgrade as the Tumbler. With the ability to go over or through anything in its way, the Tumbler helped Batman overcome villains like the Scarecrow, the Joker and Bane in its debut and subsequent sequels The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises.

#17: Transformers — 1976 Chevrolet Camaro "Bumblebee"

They're more than meets the eye — they're robots in disguise! Hasbro's line of Transformers toys has evolved since their debut in the mid-1980s. First released as a comic book and TV series to tie into the toyline, these giant robots have transformed into blockbuster film stars! Since 2007, six movies have been released and our favorite character throughout has always been Bumblebee. Mimicking a 1977 Chevrolet Camaro in the first film, Bumblebee is one sweet ride we wouldn't send to the junkyard even if it wasn't a Transformer.

#16: The Fast and the Furious — 1970 Dodge Charger

Do you live your life one quarter-mile at a time? Then you know why this 1970 Dodge Charger made our list! From the '66 Chevy Corvette in Fast and Furious 5 to the '14 Subaru Impreza WRX STI in Fast & Furious 7, the Fast and Furious franchise is not short on awesome cars. Our favorite, however, is Vin Diesel's Charger from the original movie. The most iconic car from the series, only three were built for the movie — one of which is proudly displayed in our collection.

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#15: Green Hornet — 1966 Chrysler Imperial

Comic book characters and cool cars go hand in hand. We believe one of the most underrated superhero cars of all time is the 1966 Chrysler Imperial used in The Green Hornet. The Black Beauty is simply stunning. It was upgraded with a high-performance Chevrolet 350 crate motor and 4-wheel disc brakes, among other modifications. If there's one car we wish we could race against a Batmobile, this would be our pick. Until then, we can only dream of riding shotgun with Bruce Lee.

#14: Mad Max — 1973 Ford XB Falcon

Built for the post-apocalyptic highways of the Australian outback, Mad Max's 1972 Ford Falcon Road Warrior is a hallmark of the original Mad Max trilogy. A dystopian future was no match for this mean machine. Believe it or not, only one car was used throughout the filming of Mad Max, Mad Max 2 and Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome. Whether it's the end of the world or just another day in rush hour traffic, this car would definitely be one of our go-to picks.

#13: Christine — 1957 Plymouth Fury

Some cars are known for the speed, others are known for their style, but there's only one car that is synonymous with scary — Christine. Assembled in the terrifying mind of writer Stephen King, this self-restoring killer car made its jump from the page to the screen in John Carpenter's 1983 film of the same name. With a name like Christine, most wouldn't expect a '57 Plymouth Fury to give them such a fright. Be warned though — this cruiser is possessed by an evil spirit fueled by murder.

#12: Iron Man — 2008 Audi R8

Tony Stark is a genius, billionaire, playboy and philanthropist — you better believe he has an awesome collection of cars in his hi-tech garage. Making an appearance in Marvel's Iron Man, the 2008 Audi R8 embodied the spirit of Stark himself. Fast, smooth and sure to be noticed, the R8 was built to steal the spotlight, not unlike its owner. Although it might not save the world from an alien invasion, this exceptional Audi will definitely spare you from the rigors of mid-day traffic.

#11: Goldfinger —1963 Aston Martin DB5

Of all the envy-inducing cars James Bond drives, his MI6 issued Aston Martins are by far the coolest. Appearing in Goldfinger followed by Thunderball, Sir Sean Connery's '63 Aston Martin DB5 is as smooth and suave as 007 himself. Without help from this specially equipped car, Auric Goldfinger may have succeeded in contaminating the Fort Knox gold reserve. This would be the first but not the last time an Aston Martin helped 007 save the day, including in Spectre, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies and Die Another Day.

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#10: Gone in 60 Seconds — 1967 Ford Shelby GT500

We envy Nicolas Cage's crew in Gone in 60 Seconds. The '59 Cadillac Eldorado, '65 Pontiac GTO, the '88 Porsche 959, the '90 Lamborghini Diablo — the gang got behind the wheel of 50 of the coolest cars in the world, but the crowning gem was without a doubt the 1967 Ford Shelby GT500. Nicknamed Eleanor, we can see why Cage fell in love with this silver bullet. Nearly 20 years later, this car still tempts riders to pretend they're reliving the iconic chase scene.

#9: The Munsters — 1964 Ford Drag U La Coffin Dragster

While we would immediately trade our family mini-van for the Munsters car - a 1964 Ford Munster Koach, the 1964 Ford Drag U La Coffin Dragster is one of our all-time favorite vehicles. As seen in The Munsters, this racing car was designed by Grandpa Munster to take back the Koach. Five of these cars were created in real-life, each with a 350 horse-power 289 engine and 3-speed manual transmission. As wild and wacky as the Munster family, the Drag U La is a classic.

#8: The Blues Brothers — 1974 Dodge Monaco "Bluesmobile"

Decades later, The Blues Brothers is still regarded as one of the greatest movies of all time. It should come as no surprise that their 1974 Dodge Monaco dubbed the Bluesmobile is also considered one of the best movie and television cars of all time. For our list, the Bluesmobile inclusion was a no-brainer. Converted from a real California Highway Patrol car, this iconic cruiser is known for its absurdly large loudspeaker mounted to its roof. Only 13 were created for the film, making it a rare gem.

#7: Scooby-Doo — 1976 GMC Mystery Machine Van

Since 1969, only one car has cruised from coast to coast solving mysteries, catching criminals and eating all of the food in sight — the Mystery Machine! For years, Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and Scooby-Doo unmasked bad guys in the scariest places before traveling from their animated series to live-action film in Scooby-Doo in 2002. This 1976 GMC van brought the Mystery Machine to life so picture-perfect that it made us say zoinks! If it weren't for these meddling kids, our top ten wouldn't be nearly as groovy.

#6: Back to the Future — 1981 DeLorean DMC-12

Any car can go forward and backward, but only one ride can go forward so fast it takes you back to the past. The 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 is more than a cool car — Doc Brown turned it into a bona fide time machine in Back to the Future. Making additional appearances in Back to the Future Part II and Back to the Future Part III, the DeLorean took us on trips to the past and future, solidifying it as one of the greatest fictional cars ever created.

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#5: Jurassic Park — 1993 Ford Explorer XLT UN46

Do you remember your first trip into Jurassic Park? The blockbuster movie series gave us plenty of impressive sights to behold, including two awesome cars. Although we would race at a chance to ride among the Brachiosaur in a 1993 Jeep Wrangler Sahara YJ, the 1993 Ford Explorer XLT UN46 used to tour the park was awesome. Panoramic glass roofs and a high-tech information system on a self-driving car pretty impressive, especially considering how well it handled a Tyrannosaurus Rex attack.

#4: Ghostbusters — 1959 Cadillac Ecto-1

If there's something strange in your neighborhood or if there's something weird and it doesn't look good, expect to see a 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor headed your way. Known as the Ecto-1, most know it better as simply the Ghostbusters car. One of the best cars from one of the best movies, the Ecto-1 was modified from a '59 Miller-Meteor ambulance to catch ghosts. The Cadillac itself was hardly produced — you have a better chance of spotting a real ghost before you catch a glimpse of a real Ecto-1.

#3: Knight Rider — 1983 Pontiac Trans Am "KITT"

You probably know the Knight Industries Two Thousand as KITT, the talking supercar that helped David Hasselhoff fight for justice in the 1980's TV series Knight Rider. Few cars on the list could measure up to KITT's level of coolness. This 1983 Pontiac Trans Am is arguably the most memorable character in Knight Rider and is easily one of the best cars to sail out of the '80s.

#2: The Dukes of Hazard — 1969 Dodge Charger "General Lee"

The General Lee is instantly recognizable, so much so that those unfamiliar with The Dukes of Hazard almost assuredly know this bright orange 1969 Dodge Charger the moment they see it. Believe it or not, over 200 General Lees were used for filming, yet only one original model survived! As far as "real" cars go, the General Lee is the best car to grace our television screens.

#1: Batman — 1989 Batmobile

Now to reveal what you waited for — what is the most famous movie car? One of the most iconic superheroes in comic book history has one of the coolest cars to make it from the pages to the silver screen. All Batmobiles are neat creations, but the 1989 Batmobile driven by Michael Keaton in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman and its sequel Batman Returns is the ultimate movie car. After a single look at this car, you'll wish you could be the Caped Crusader for just one night of joyriding around Gotham.

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Where Can I See Famous Movie Cars?

Have you ever wondered where many of these famous cars are now? Come see some of your favorite movie and tv cars at Volo Auto Museum. Our collection of Hollywood cars is one of the best on the planet. Iconic cars from your favorite cartoons sit alongside legendary mean-machines from the greatest films ever produced. Visit our museum in Volo, Illinois, to get an up-close-and-personal view of many rides you won't find anywhere else, including:

Beverly Hillbillies 1921 Oldsmobile
Miami Vice 1976 Ferrari Daytona Spyder
Star Wars 1977 Landspeeder X-34
Alien 1979 Nostromo Survey Buggy
Flintstones 1994 Flintmobile Family Car
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1957 Volkswagen Vanagon TMNT
Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull 2008 ZIL-485 SEEP
Cat in the Hat 2003 Super Luxurious Omnidirectional Whatchamajigger
Captain Phillips 1998 Ernst Hatecke Freefall Lifeboat
Grease 1946 Ford Deluxe
Cars 1955 Chevrolet All Night'er The Brown Tow Truck

Do you see your favorite car in our massive inventory? Then treat yourself to a once-in-a-lifetime experience by renting one for display at your next private event! These Hollywood cars are perfect pieces to put on display at any birthday party, Halloween festivity, retirement celebration, graduation, or corporate event. Marvel at these classic cars and take unforgettable photos that'll make you feel like a movie star. For information on how to rent one of our Hollywood cars for your next event, contact Volo Auto Museum today.

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